Machine, methods, and program product for electronic inventory tracking

ABSTRACT

Machine, methods, and program product for facilitating electronic inventory tracking and management of products through messaging over a payment network, are provided. An example includes an inventory management computer in communication with a merchant POS apparatus or terminal over an existing financial services payment network and configured to receive and process purchase transaction data associated with a product being purchased, for use by a product provider. The computer can include electronic inventory management program product configured to perform various operations including receiving a purchase transaction message sent through the payment network, storing purchase transaction data, and notifying a product provider of the purchase transaction data. The purchase transaction message can include a financial services electronic payment network compatible universal product-transaction identifier, which can be received through the POS terminal in response to a consumer or merchant interfacing the product&#39;s container, or an associated purchase ticket or slip storing the transaction identifier, with the POS terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/626,349, filed Nov. 25,2009, titled “Machine, Methods, And Program Product For ElectronicInventory Tracking,” which claims priority to and is related to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/118,127, filed Nov. 26, 2008,titled “System, Apparatus, Methods, and Program Product for ElectronicInventory Tracking,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.12/554,432, filed Sep. 4, 2009, titled “System, Program Product andMethods For Retail Activation And Reload Associated With PartialAuthorization Transactions” (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,403,211), and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/609,896, filed Oct. 30, 2009, titled“Machine, Methods, and Program Product for Electronic Order Entry” (nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,108,977), each of which is incorporated by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to electronic inventorymanagement. More specifically, the present invention relates tomachines, methods, and program products for facilitating electronicinventory management of products through messaging over existingfinancial services electronic payment networks.

2. Description of the Related Art

As computers continue to become faster and faster and as database accessand database management continues to improve, the prospects of, and thedesire for, instituting viable and cost-effective electronic inventorytracking systems by managing entities, e.g., manufacturers, productsuppliers, shippers, etc., has evolved. A conventional application of anelectronic inventory tracking system includes barcodes or radiofrequencyidentification tags placed on products, which can be readily scanned asproducts are shipped between various brick and mortar facilities. Suchelectronic inventory tracking systems perform superbly when the productstays within the control of the specific entity, i.e., manufacturer,product supplier, or shipper.

Such systems, however, have an inherent lag and often fail when theproducts are being placed outside the control of the managing entity.That is, once the products are delivered to retail merchants, forexample, the managing entity must rely on the retail merchants toprovide the desired data or incur significant expense to send in manualteams to collect this data. Various large retail merchants having robustinformation technology departments have tried to help reduce suchinherent lag by allowing manufacturers and suppliers direct access totheir sales activity data. Individual local franchises and other smallerretailers, however, although collectively accounting for substantialportions of the products being sold in certain select categories,generally do not have the resources to provide the manufacturers andsuppliers such data in such manner—instead, periodically providing salesdata in compiled reports, if at all.

As such, in order for the managing entity to determine what and how muchof its product or products have been sold by the merchant, the managingentity must either wait for reports sent from the merchant, or in manycases, send a person on-site to visually inspect current inventory. Suchpersonal visits, although having some benefits, still do not necessarilyprovide accurate inventory or sales reporting data. On countlessoccasions, the person sent to perform the on-site inspection, being onlymarginally familiar with the storage facilities owned by the retailmerchant, may overlook a storage location that the busy retail merchantsforgot to identify. Other errors occur when, for example, variousinventory is misidentified or shelved improperly; an error that may onlybe discovered after the on-site visitor pre-orders additional product,only to have it refused by the merchant.

Although not necessarily employing or even familiar with the latestcomputer technology being used for inventory or sales tracking, thesesame retail merchants have been found to be quite familiar and extremelycomfortable with employing the latest in point-of-sale (“POS”)technology. Accordingly, a machine, program product, and methods forfacilitating electronic inventory management of products throughmessaging over existing financial services electronic payment networkswhich utilizes existing POS technology, and which does not require useof a conventional online computer system to retrieve sales tracking orother inventory management data is described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, various embodiments of the present inventionadvantageously provide a machine, program product, and method forfacilitating electronic inventory management of products throughmessaging over existing financial services electronic payment networks,which utilize existing point-of-sale (“POS”) technology, and which doesnot require use of a conventional online computer system to retrievesales tracking or other inventory management data. Various embodimentsof the present invention advantageously provide a service that enables aproduct provider (e.g., manufacturer, supplier, etc.) to obtainreal-time inventory data by assigning individual product setstraditional credit card identification numbers compatible with atraditional financial services electronic payment network, e.g.,MasterCard®, Visa®, American Express®, or Discover® network, and thatenables a consumer or retail merchant to scan or otherwise enter suchdata into a POS terminal which can correspondingly relay real-timepurchase transaction data over the payment network for use by theproduct provider or other managing entity. Advantageously, such servicecan be offered to any business and can be made available anywhere thatthe associated financial services electronic payment network isavailable.

More specifically, an example of an embodiment of a machine forfacilitating electronic inventory management of serialized productsthrough messaging over an existing financial services electronic paymentnetwork can include a database containing lookup tables positioned torelate each of a plurality of universal product-transaction identifiersto a corresponding product set of a plurality of product sets and acorresponding associated product set code, such as a universal productcode, and a processor configured to operate on the computer, theprocessor executing a program product stored in a memory accessible bythe processor and executable on the processor and positioned to performa process of messaging over an existing financial services electronicpayment network and the process of updating inventory data for each of aplurality of product sets, the computer program product performing thesteps of generating a plurality of unique financial services electronicpayment network compatible universal product-transaction identifiers(often referred to as a Primary Account Number or PAN when applied to apayment card), and assigning or otherwise associating each separate oneof the plurality of universal product-transaction identifiers with adifferent set of a plurality of product sets. Each of the plurality ofuniversal product-transaction identifiers includes a common, e.g.,financial transaction bank identification number (“BIN”) alsointerchangeably referred to as an issuer identifier number (“IIN”) and aproduct identification number. According to this example, each productwithin each single product set of the plurality of product sets ischaracterized by being a same type, size, and quantity as each otherproduct in the respective same product set. Each product within eachsingle product set of the plurality of product sets also has a sameuniversal product code associated therewith that is different from theuniversal product code associated with each product in any of the otherproduct sets of the plurality of product sets. Further, each productwithin each one of the plurality of product sets is different orotherwise differentiated from each product in any of the other productsets of the plurality of product sets by at least one of the following:type, size, quantity, and delivery mode. The products, either throughenhanced product packaging or through use of an enhanced productidentification purchase ticket or slip, are configured to interface withthe merchant's POS terminal (e.g., through use of a magnetic stripe) toenable electronic inventory tracking over the existing financialservices electronic payment network, e.g., MasterCard®, Visa®, AmericanExpress®, and/or Discover® networks.

The machine can also include providing the plurality of universalproduct-transaction identifiers to a product provider for placement onrespective associated products, with each associated product coupledwith a transaction identifier storage medium for storing the respectiveassociated universal product-transaction identifier, and with eachtransaction identifier storage medium configured to interface with a POSterminal positioned to receive the respective universalproduct-transaction identifier to thereby facilitate electronicinventory management over the existing financial services electronicpayment network using the universal product-transaction identifier. Themachine can also of receive a purchase transaction message sent throughthe financial services electronic payment network from each of aplurality of retail merchants each having a POS apparatus including aPOS terminal. The purchase transaction message can include the universalproduct-transaction identifier that is associated with the respectiveproduct being purchased. According to this example, the universalproduct-transaction identifier is received through a respective POSterminal responsive to the POS terminal receiving the respectiveuniversal product-transaction identifier as a result of the customer ormerchant, for example, swiping the product container or productidentification ticket or slip through the magnetic stripe slot of thePOS terminal. The method can also include storing purchase transactiondata associated with the plurality of product sets purchased across theplurality of retail merchants, for access by the product provider—withthe purchase transaction data being related by universal product code tothe received universal product-transaction identifiers (for storage).

An example of an embodiment of a machine for facilitating electronicinventory management of a serialized product through messaging over anexisting financial services electronic payment network, can also includean externally accessible storage medium for storing a universalproduct-transaction identifier associated with each same product withinone single set of a plurality of sets of, e.g., non-transaction card,products, and a retail container carrying the storage medium. The retailcontainer can be in the form of a packaging container containing anon-transaction card, a product associated with the universalproduct-transaction identifier stored in the storage medium, or aproduct identification ticket or slip. According to this example, eachproduct within each single product set of the plurality of product setsis characterized by being a same type, size, and quantity as each otherproduct in the respective same product set. Each product within each ofone the plurality of product sets is different from each product in anyof the other product sets of the plurality of product sets by at leastone of the following: type, size, quantity, and delivery mode.Additionally, each product within each single product set of theplurality of product sets also has a same universal product codeassociated therewith that is different from the universal product codeassociated with each product in any of the other product sets of theplurality of product sets. Further, according to this example, thetransaction identifier storage medium is configured to interface with apoint-of-sale terminal positioned to receive the respective universalproduct-transaction identifier. Advantageously, as described above, suchuniversal product-transaction identifier assigned or otherwiseassociated with the product can be used to access the existing financialservices electronic payment network to enable the provision, receipt,and storage of purchase transaction data over the payment network, aspart of the purchase process.

An example of an embodiment of a machine for facilitating electronicinventory management of serialized products through messaging over anexisting financial services electronic payment network, can receive datafrom a product apparatus, i.e., either a product with enhanced productpackaging or an enhanced product identification purchase ticket/slip,such as, for example, that described above; an inventory managementcomputer positioned remote from and in communication with a merchant POSapparatus/terminal over the existing financial services electronicpayment network to receive and process purchase transaction data; andelectronic inventory management program product stored in the memory ofthe inventory management computer, for example, as described below.

An example of an embodiment of an electronic inventory managementprogram product for facilitating electronic inventory management ofserialized products through messaging over an existing financialservices electronic payment network, can include a set of instructionsthat, when executed by one or more computers or processors, cause theone or more computers or processors to perform various operationsincluding, for example, receiving a first purchase transaction messagefrom a merchant POS apparatus responsive to a user interfacing thestorage medium storing a universal product-transaction identifier of aselected one of the products of the plurality of product sets with themerchant POS apparatus. If the merchant POS apparatus supports partialauthorization messaging, the message can include a flag indicating acapability of the merchant POS apparatus to supportpartial-authorization messaging, along with at least a portion of theuniversal product-transaction identifier assigned to the selectedproduct. The operations can also include storing purchase transactiondata associated with the product being purchased for use by therespective product provider, sending partial-authorization approval datato the respective merchant POS apparatus responsive to receiving thefirst purchase transaction message, and receiving a second paymentmessage defining a purchase acknowledgment from the respective merchantPOS apparatus acknowledging that the merchant POS apparatus or amerchant associated therewith received from a purchasing customersufficient monetary funds to purchase the respective product. Theoperations can also include making available through an externalcommunications network not associated with the financial serviceselectronic payment network, at least portions of the purchasetransaction data to the product provider.

The operations can also include either the same computer/processor or adifferent computer/processor, generating the plurality of uniquefinancial services electronic payment network compatible universalproduct-transaction identifiers on a common, e.g., financial transactionIIN, and associating each separate one of the plurality of universalproduct-transaction identifiers with a different product set of theplurality of product sets. The operations can further include providingthe plurality of universal product-transaction identifiers to theproduct provider for universal product-transaction identifier placementon respective associated products.

Embodiments of the present invention provide at least two primarybenefits: (1) efficiency for product distribution; and (2) the provisionof real-time sales data to identify customer trends and behavior.Regarding efficiency, if a distributor, for example, can eliminate thestep where the driver performs a manual inventory at the merchant site,and instead pre-stocks the delivery truck with only what is needed inthe order of the route, the distributor can substantiality increasedelivery throughput. Regarding the provision of real-time sales data, ifthere is a spike in demand for 32 oz. orange soda on a Tuesday, thebottler can start producing more on Tuesday or Wednesday, if needed.

To accomplish these benefits, according to various embodiments of thepresent invention, the unique universal product-transaction identifierassigned to a specific group of same products is in the form of anelectronic payment network compatible transaction card number, whichincludes an, e.g., financial transaction IIN and a productidentification number associated with a specific type of product. Also,a product itself can be configured to interface with a POS terminal toenable electronic product purchase tracking over the existing financialservices electronic payment network using the universalproduct-transaction identifier, for example, which can be assignedaccording to a product identifier such as a universal product code orstock keeping unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features and advantages of theinvention, as well as others, which will become apparent, may beunderstood in more detail, a more particular description of theinvention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to theembodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings,which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however,that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the inventionand are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention's scopeas it may include other effective embodiments as well.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a general machine architecture of amachine for facilitating electronic inventory management of serializedproducts through messaging over a financial services electronic paymentnetwork according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a product apparatus in the form of amedication container carrying a storage medium having stored thereon anuniversal product-transaction identifier according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a productapparatus in the form of a product identification purchase ticketaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of various product groupings illustratinguniversal product-transaction identifier assignment according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a merchant point-of-sale terminaladapted to interface with both product apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a table identifying a product being purchasedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating steps/operations forfielding payment network compatible product apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating steps/operations forassociating universal product-transaction identifier with product setsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating customer/merchant actionfor initiating purchase transaction tracking according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating steps/operations forreceiving, processing, and providing purchase transaction data accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic flow diagram summarizing various steps/operationsfor facilitating electronic inventory management of products throughmessaging over a financial services electronic payment network accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 provides a schematic diagram of an electronic inventorymanagement product stored in a tangible computer readable medium andcomprising a set of executable instructions that facilitate electronicinventory management of goods, services, or goods and servicescollectively through messaging over an existing financial serviceselectronic payment network;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a database and database tables of amachine for facilitating the electronic inventory management ofserialized products through messaging over an existing financialservices electronic payment network and receiving purchase transactiondata for each of a plurality of product sets, the computer programproduct performing the steps of according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a transaction tracking computeraccording to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a general system architecture of amachine for facilitating electronic inventory management of serializedproducts through messaging over a financial services electronic paymentnetwork according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments ofthe invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theillustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Prime notation, if used,indicates similar elements in alternative embodiments. Note, the termproduct as used herein includes packaged and unpackaged goods,documentation of services, or goods and services collectively andindividually defining products.

Manufacturers and other product suppliers typically know how muchproduct from a batch has been shipped to their retail outlet. Without aphysical count, however, they generally do not know, real-time, how manyproducts of different batches have been sold to individual customers fora single retail outlet/merchant, much less across multiple retailoutlets/merchants. Barcodes, RFID tags, etc., affixed to products,however, provide the downstream merchant an automated methodology oftracking product sales. In a typical scenario, the manufacturer or otherproduct suppliers affix to the product a barcode label identifying theproduct. The serialized product is then typically delivered eitherdirectly, or through wholesalers, to multiple retail merchants fordistribution to individual retail customers. Then, as the product issold, the barcode is scanned to record the sale. This data can becompiled by each separate retail merchant and provided to the productsupplier. Such data, however, is often stale upon arrival and is oftenplagued with inaccuracies.

Various embodiments of the present invention include systems, apparatus,program product, and methods which use a magnetic label, RFID tag, orother storage media containing a “universal product-transactionidentifier” often referred to as a “Primary Account Number” or “PAN,”which includes an, e.g., financial transaction issuer identifier number(“IIN”) to track sales of each individual product. According to variousembodiments of the present invention, at checkout, the IIN/PAN is swipedor read using, e.g., RF-PayPass®, PayWave®, etc., at a point-of-sale(“POS”) terminal having access to a conventional financial serviceselectronic payment network. Partial authentication logic, for example,can then be used to capture its sale and keep the transaction moving.Such data can beneficially provide a real time record of specificproduct items being sold, allowing the manufacturer or product supplierto perform real-time inventory management based on real-time productsales data.

For example, at the end of the transaction, the manufacturer or productsupplier can know with certainty that 32 oz Product X was sold at theMerchant Gas Station Y located on 100 Main St on Oct. 1 at 10:02 PM. Theproduct manufacturer or supplier can beneficially not only access thisnear real-time sales data to find out not only how much overall producthas been sold, but can do so at the universal product code (“UPC”) orstock keeping unit (“SKU”) level, as well as receive the date and timeof the purchase behavior. This data, across multiple merchants,especially the smaller merchants, can be extremely valuable to themanufacturer or supplier of Product X for product manufacturing orinventory planning. In addition, since the manufacturer of Product X, orthe distributor, generally delivers Products X, Y, Z, on a regularbasis, according to embodiments of the present invention, the deliverytruck driver can arrive and know in advance which of Products X, Y, Z,is needed, and in what quantity.

A substantial improvement in delivery and efficiency can be realized,compared with that of the conventional process where the distributorloads the truck with all SKU's and the delivery driver enters themerchant store, performs a manual inventory, and then returns to thetruck to replenish the inventory levels. As a result of implementationof various embodiments of the present invention, the distributor caneliminate the step where the driver performs a manual inventory checkand can instead pre-stock the delivery truck with only what is neededand in the order of the route, thereby increasing delivery throughput.Additionally, such real-time sales data can be used to identify customertrends and behavior. If there is a spike in demand for Product X isidentified on a Tuesday, the manufacturer they can start producing moreProduct X as early as that day.

A machine 30 for facilitating electronic inventory management ofproducts 31 through either traditional or partial authenticationmessaging over an existing (traditional) financial services electronicpayment network 33 is shown in FIG. 1. The machine includes a POSterminal 67 for receiving the payment using the product apparatus 65; amerchant acquirer computer 63 for accepting the transaction andfacilitating communication of the transaction; a payment network 33provided to identify an issuer associated with the product provider, anissuer processor computer 61 for processing the transaction; and amember transaction processing computer 81 for executing the instructionsfor facilitating the inventory management of products from the productprovider 97 through communications network 101. As one skilled in theart will appreciate, the merchant acquirer, payment network, and issuerprocessor computer are component of a traditional payment transactionsystem that enables credit transactions with a merchant, e.g., consumercredit card and debit card systems, and as such, machine 30 can processpayment information in addition to and in conjunction with the inventorymanagement functions of the instant invention.

Communication network 101 connects the product apparatus 35 to themerchant acquirer computer 63, financial services electronic paymentnetwork 33, issuer processor computer 61, the transaction trackingcomputer 81 and the product provider 97 (though the communicationsnetwork 101 is depicted connecting only the customer 65, productprovider 97 and transaction tracking computer 81) and can include, forexample, a telecommunication network 103, which can include a wire-basedtelephone network, pager network, cellular network, or a combinationthereof, and a computer network 105. As one skilled in the art willappreciate, the computer network 105 can connect all of the systemcomponents using a local area network (“LAN”) or wide area network(“WAN”), or a combination thereof. For example, financial serviceselectronic payment network 33, issuer processor computer 61, andtransaction-tracking computer 81 may be associated with the same entityand are thereby configured as a plurality of servers operating togetherin a LAN. Alternatively, the merchant acquirer computer 63 and paymentnetwork may be the same entity and operate together using a LAN, but usea WAN to connect to the issuer processor computer 61. Accordingly,though not all such configurations are depicted, all are within thescope of the disclosure.

Product apparatus 35 connects to the POS terminal 67, which can be,e.g., a terminal at a merchant or, alternatively, a device interfacesuch as a telephone or computer connected to an internet connection, andinitiates the product order by accessing the machine 30 using same. Asshown in FIG. 5, the POS terminal 67 can include a keypad 69 so that acustomer can enter an electronic order card number; a barcode scanner 71(so the merchant can scan a barcode associated with the order, aproduct, or a portion of an electronic order card); and a magneticstripe reader/slot 73 (so the merchant or customer can scan a magneticstripe on the electronic order card. Alternative embodiments of the POSterminal 67 can include an RFID interface (not shown) and/or a contactmemory button reader (not shown). The POS terminal 67, further includesvarious software and hardware for interfacing with the merchant acquirercomputer 63, financial services electronic payment network 33, andissuer processor computer 61, as known and understood by those skilledin the art. For example, the POS terminal 67 may include a computerdisplay screen (not shown) for displaying transaction data, a computermemory such RAM, ROM and related hard disk storage for storingtransaction data or computer instructions, a computer processor forexecuting computer instruction, and associated buses for data input andoutput, including those to connect the POS terminal 67 to the LAN or WANfor interaction with the machine 30.

To use the POS terminal 67, and thereby access the machine 30, a userswipes or otherwise enters order information carried on a productapparatus 35 for a consumer product or the like. An exemplary productapparatus 35, 35′ is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 AND 4. In a preferredmethodology, the universal product-transaction identifier 41 isextracted from the product apparatus 35, 35′, and passed to the merchantacquirer computer 63 in response to a customer or merchant swiping orotherwise interfacing a product apparatus 35, 35′ with a POS terminal67, or by entering the purchase transaction identifier number 41directly into the POS terminal 67 via keypad 69 (FIG. 5). As one skilledin the art will appreciate, product apparatus 35, 35′ can comprisedifferent container media 37, 37′ representing the product 31 in theform of, for example, a product identification purchase ticket or slip,cards, hang tags, product containers, etc., that carry or otherwisecontains a universal product-transaction identifier 41 assigned to orotherwise associated with each same product 31 of a set 43 of sameproducts which are part of a plurality of sets 45 of different products31. Accordingly, one POS terminal 67 can be used with one or morecontainer media 37 according to the embodiments of the invention, andthe container media 37 may be non-transaction card products 31, e.g.,product containers, service tickets, hang tags, labels, etc., but canalso be financial card products, e.g., credit and debit cards.

In one configuration, the product apparatus 35 can include the containermedium 37 containing a product 31, e.g., medication or the like, andhaving a universal purchase transaction identifier number 41 carriedthereon. The container medium 37 may be, e.g., a pill bottle or otherpackaging, that may be manufactured so that at least one of a storagemedium 39, a purchase transaction identifier number 41, or a bar code49, is printed or otherwise affixed on the product apparatus 35. Forexample, the container medium 37 may be a pill bottle with a cap portionand a bottle portion, with the cap portion having a distal end forengaging a magnetic stripe reader in, e.g., POS 67. To engage the POS67, the cap portion may have a substantially card shaped, flat portionmade from, e.g., 30 mm plastic and a magnetic stripe formed thereon. Asone skilled in the art will appreciate in these exemplaryconfigurations, the purchase transaction identifier number 41 may bemanually entered into the POS terminal 67 using the keypad 69 e.g., aproduct apparatus using the bar code 49 or the transaction identifiernumber image 47; the purchase transaction identifier number 41 can beread by swiping the product apparatus 35 through the a magnetic stripereader/slot 73, e.g., a product apparatus using the storage medium 39disposed on the card-shaped, flat portion of the product apparatus 35;or the purchase transaction identifier number 41 can be read using barcode scanned 71, e.g., a product apparatus using the bar code 49. As oneskilled in the art will appreciate, the product apparatus 35, may usethe storage medium 39; the purchase transaction identifier number 41,the bar code 49 printed on the product apparatus 35, or any combinationthereof or any equivalent methods as known or obvious to those skilledin the art.

An alternative product apparatus 35′ is illustrated in FIG. 3. Here theproduct apparatus 35′ consists of a container medium 37′, taking theform of, e.g., a card, a hang tag, a removable label or the like thatmay be substantially rectangular and made from plastic, or othermaterial, and a storage medium 39′, a product identification number 41′,a bar code 49′. As shown the product apparatus 35′ may also include, forexample, an adhesive backing so that the card, hang tag or label can beremoved from the product, a hole in one portion of the card, hang tag orlabel to attach same to a product, or a graphic 31′ of the associatedproduct so a user can match an assortment of cards, hang tags or labelsto the proper products. Like the product apparatus 35, product apparatus35′ can initiate the machine 30 by entering the purchase transactionidentifier number 41′ into the POS terminal 67 using the keypad 69 e.g.,a product apparatus using the bar code 49′ or the transaction identifiernumber image 47′; by swiping the card, hang tag, label or the like,through the a magnetic stripe reader/slot 73, e.g., a product apparatususing the storage medium 39′ disposed thereon; or by using bar codescanned 71, e.g., a product apparatus using the bar code 49′.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the storage medium 39 and 39′ affixed to orotherwise carried by or contained within the product apparatus 35, 35′(illustrated in the figures in the form of a magnetic stripe), stores acopy of the universal product-transaction identifier 41. For example,the storage media 39, 39′ may be a magnetic stripe that may store dataon three separate tracks, tracks one and two, which are traditionallyread only tracks, could store the universal product transactionidentification number, merchant name, product provider, productidentifier etc., and track three, traditionally a read/write track,could allow data to be written to the magnetic stripe, e.g.,identification of stock data, location information, etc. However, as oneskilled in the art will recognize, in alternative embodiments, theuniversal product-transaction identifier 41 may be the only thing storedin the various card storage media. As one skilled in the art willrecognize, other configurations of the storage medium 39, 39′, include,for example, a radiofrequency identification (“RFID”) tag, a contactmemory button, or other comparable storage medium, capable of storingthe universal product-transaction identifier 41 and any of the otherproduct data such as the product manufacturer, fortransmission/retrieval by a merchant point-of-sale terminal 67 (FIG. 1).

Moreover, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, the productapparatus 35, 35′, may use the storage medium 39, 39′, the purchasetransaction identifier number 41, 41′, the bar code 49, 49′ printed onthe product apparatus 35, 35′, individually or in any combinationthereof or any equivalent methods as known or obvious to those skilledin the art. For example, the purchase transaction identifier number 41can be printed on the product apparatus and stored in the storagemedium, while the bar code 49, 49′ contains the product UPC or SKUnumber for inventory management by the merchant. Such a system wouldrequire two data entry steps at the POS terminal, but could reduce anydelay between inventory updates between the merchant and issuer.Alternatively, the bar code could contain the purchase transactionnumber, and no other identification means could be used. Moreover,rather than labeling or embossing the actual universalproduct-transaction identifier number 41 on the external surface of thecontainer medium 37, 37′, some businesses may choose to not visuallydivulge the universal product transaction identifier number 41, i.e.,some may provide no identifier number at all on the container mediumsurface, or may use/assign some other identifier number that is uniquelyassociated with the universal product transaction identifier number 41,for example, for use during conversations with customer service, etc.

The universal product-transaction identifier 41 may be a numericalidentifier that includes an IIN 51, i.e., a number, typically six (6)digits, for example, used to identify the issuing bank or other issuerso that messages can be routed through the payment network; a uniqueproduct identifier number 53 used for identifying a specific product,and a checksum digit 55. In operation, a manufacturer or productsupplier working with an issuer or processor, or the issuer, itself,assigns a different payment network compatible payment card numberreceived from the issuer to each product. In addition, an individualissuer could assign multiple IIN numbers for different productproviders, and the payment network would route each of the IIN numbersto the same issuer for processing, i.e., parsing the universal producttransaction identifier number 41, by manufacturer and then associatingthe product identifier number to the product. For example, as shown inFIG. 6, the issuer could assign Soft Drink Company X the IIN 400001 andSoft Drink Company X could associate the product identifier 4000 . . .01 for its Orange 12 oz; 4000 . . . 02 for its Orange 32 oz; 4000 . . .03 for its Grape 12 oz, and so on, which can then be associated with aUPC or SKU. The end result is that each different UPC or SKU 49 hasassigned a corresponding card number (universal product-transactionidentifier 41) that has a format that conforms to a financial serviceselectronic payment network's specifications.

Moreover, according to various embodiments of the present invention, theIIN 51 may identify a financial issuer, such as a bank, that will settlefinancial transactions, or may identify a non-financial issuer, such asa manufacturer, that will not settle financial transactions, and in suchembodiments, the IIN is used to route the transaction data to the issuerthrough the financial services network not to identify the productprovider. Here, different read tracks of the storage device, i.e., thatmight contain data related to a product provider associated with theuniversal product transaction identifier, could be read into the networkfor transmittal to the issuer so that the issuer could match an incominguniversal product transaction identifier with the product provideridentified in the message. Moreover, a single issuer may assign an IINaccording to transaction type, i.e., whether the IIN is associated witha financial transaction or the IIN is associated with an inventorymanagement transaction, and manage incoming purchase transactionmessages accordingly. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, severalother configurations compatible with at least one traditional financialservice electronic payment network 33, however, are within the scope ofthe present invention.

Once the POS terminal 67 receives the universal product-transactionidentifier 41, and any other data that may be stored in the storagemedium, from the product apparatus 35, the POS terminal 67 may appendtime of sale data thereto for transmission, i.e., and any additionaltransaction information such as the transaction date, transaction time,merchant identification, etc., and thereby assemble a purchasetransaction message for transmittal. The purchase transaction message isthen encrypted and transmitted through the communications network 101 tothe merchant acquirer computer 63. The merchant acquirer computer isboth configured and positioned in communication with the issuerprocessor computer 61 through the financial services electronic paymentnetwork 33, and decrypts the purchase transaction message, including theuniversal product-transaction identifier 41, and appends additionaldata, such as the merchant acquirer identification, there to fortransmission of the purchase transaction message to the financialservices electronic payment network 33. As one skilled in the art willrecognize, in addition to transmitting the universal product-transactionidentifier 41, the merchant acquirer could also transmit settlement datato the payment network so that the merchant or product provider 97 canreceive payment in conjunction with the order. To perform these duties,merchant acquirer computer 63, for example, consists of at least onecomputer, though it can be implemented as one or more computers eachhaving a processor and memory coupled to the processor to storeoperating instructions therein, which can be configured in the form of aserver.

The merchant acquirer computer 63 transmits the purchase transactionmessage, including the universal product-transaction identifier 41, tothe financial services electronic payment network 33, which operates toset transaction rules, facilitate transactions, settles funds betweenparties, engages in risk mitigation etc. Examples of payment networks 31are e.g., MasterCard®, Visa®, American Express®, or Discover® network.At the financial services electronic payment network 33, the purchasetransaction message is decrypted so that the issuer can be identifiedusing the IIN portion of the universal product transaction identifier41, and the purchase transaction message is then routed to theappropriate issuer 61. The financial services electronic payment network33 can be configured as one or more computers each having a processorand memory coupled to the processor to store operating instructionstherein, which can be configured in the form of a server.

The financial services electronic payment network 33 routes the purchasetransaction message, including the universal product-transactionidentifier 41, which may be encrypted before transmission, to the issuerprocessor computer 61. The issuer processor computer 61 traditionallyfunds transactions, i.e., bills the customer a charge, and can be e.g.,a bank. Here, in addition to settling merchant accounts, the issuerprocessor computer 61 transmits inventory data, using for example, thepurchase transaction message and universal product-transactionidentifier 41, for inventory management by a transaction-trackingcomputer 81. To achieve this end, the issuer processor computer 61, canbe implemented as one or more computers each having a processor andmemory coupled to the processor to store operating instructions therein,which can be configured in the form of a server.

The issuer processor computer 61 sends at least a portion of thepurchase transaction message, including the universalproduct-transaction identifier 41, to the transaction-tracking computer81. Transaction tracking computer 81 performs many of the functions ofthe machine related assigning a plurality of universalproduct-transaction identifiers. To achieve this, transaction trackingcomputer could be configured as an application server or plurality ofapplication servers connected to and as a part of the issuer processorcomputer 61 and accessible by a plurality of workstations associatedwith the issuer processor computer 61, as shown in FIG. 15.

It should also be understood that the illustrated merchant acquirercomputer, payment network, issuer processor computer and transactiontracking computer configuration are given by way of example and thatother types of servers or computers configured according to variousother methodologies known to those skilled in the art, can be used. Forexample, a single computer, a plurality of computers, a server, orserver cluster or server farm may be employed, and this disclosure doesnot limit any configuration of computers and servers for each. Moreover,each may be deployed at a server farm or server cluster managed by aserver host, and the number of servers and their architecture andconfiguration may be increased based on usage, demand, and capacityrequirements for the machine 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 15, the transaction-tracking computer 81connects to a database server 95, telecommunications interface 107 andweb server 109.

The database server 95 can be used to store product, merchant, andtransaction information in separate records, tables, or columns in anassociated database, which may be received from the financial serviceselectronic payment network 33. As is understood in the art, the databaseserver 95 includes a processor directing data from a bus into thedatabase memory, which can be e.g., a hard drive, optical storage or thelike, and computer software that provides each of the plurality ofissuer component computers (not shown), including the transactiontracking computer 81, access the data therein.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary database structure for product, transaction,and merchant data received by the transaction-tracking computer, andavailable to be stored in database server 95, though one skilled in theart will appreciate other database structures are possible and areincluded within the scope of the invention. Database 1300, for example,includes product provider lookup table 1310, product set information1311, purchase transaction message table 1312, and provider lookup table1313. Purchase transaction message table 1312 represents the contents ofa purchase transaction message received by the transaction trackingcomputer and includes columns, i.e., fields for data entry, such as, forexample, the unique product-transaction identifier, the provideridentification, the product identification number and the purchasetransaction data. The product provider lookup table 1310 includescolumns such as, e.g., product identification number, and productidentification code (UPC, SKU, product name). The product set table 1311includes columns for e.g., date/time of transaction and any of theprovider product data as included in the purchase transaction message.Provider look-up table 1313 includes columns such as, e.g., the provideridentification, the product provider name, the product provider address,the product provider IP address. As one skilled in the art willunderstand, the purchase transaction message table 1312 can be used tostore top level information about the transaction and point to aprovider, while the provider look-up table 1313 can store providerinformation related to the top level message, the product-provider table1310 can contain all of the product identification numbers associatedwith the provider identified in the provider table 1313, and the productset information table 1311 can store all of the data related to each oneof the product identification numbers, e.g., sales volume, retailersales statistics, date and time of purchase behavior, product deliveryschedule, delivery throughput, real-time sales data, customer trends, aproduct name, a product quantity, how many of an item are in stock, astock status, when additional stock will become available or if theproduct is overstocked, and a ship date, estimated date for productshipping, behavior including demand trends and product shortages, andany other data relevant to product manufacturing or distribution. Oneskilled in the art would also appreciate that the database tablesdescribed herein are not limited to any single flat table but may alsobe implemented using multiple tables or using a multidimensional or OLAPstructure or methodologies. As one skilled in the art will appreciate,each of these tables may include other dependent tables for each of thecolumns, e.g., the provider address column could be implemented as atable with fields for street number, street name, city, state, and zipcode. Moreover, database 1300 may include fewer or more data tables andcolumns depending upon the implementation of the particular embodimentof the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand and recognizethat multiple order codes, and a customers' personal information (if thetransaction is completed with a separate customer credit card) can alsobe included in the database tables and columns, and that database servercan be implemented as a single computer, server, plurality of computersor servers, or as separate component of the transaction trackingcomputer 81.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 14, telecommunications interface 107 allows aproduct apparatus 35, product provider 91, or a merchant (not shown) toconnect to the issuer processor computer using a telephone line, or thelike, and may be a standard telephone network device such as a PBX. Asone skilled in the art will appreciate, web server 109 provides thepayment network, merchants, product providers, and networked computersaccess to the issuer processor computer network, and is used to managecomputer traffic to and from the issuer processor computer 61. As such,web server 109 is configured with processors, memory, and I/O devices toallow efficient exchange of data between the transaction trackingcomputer 81, its related components, the financial services electronicpayment network 33, product provider 91, and product apparatus 35 tofacilitate the web functions thereof.

Transaction tracking computer 81 can be configured as a computer, aserver, or a system of distributed computers or servers that at leastinclude memory 93, program product 91, processor 508, input/outputdevice and (“I/O”) 1410, as shown in FIG. 14. Transaction trackingcomputer I/O device 1410 connects the transaction-tracking computer 81to issuer processor computer 61, database server 95, telecommunicationsinterface 107, and web server 109, to thereby allow transaction-trackingcomputer 81 to send and receive product transaction inventory data. I/Odevice 1410 can be any I/O device including, but not limited to anetwork card/controller connected by a PCI bus to the motherboard, orhardware built into the motherboard of the transaction tracking computer81 to connect same to the network.

As can be seen, the I/O device is connected to the processor 1408.Processor 1408 is the “brains” of the transaction-tracking computer 81,and as such executes program product 91 and works in conjunction withthe I/O device 1410 to direct data to memory 93 and to send data frommemory 93 to the database server 95, telecommunications interface 107,and web server 109. Processor 1408 can be any commercially availableprocessor, or plurality of processors, adapted for use for thetransaction tracking computer 81, e.g., Intel® Xeon® multicoreprocessors, Intel® micro-architecture Nehalem, AMD Opteron™ multicoreprocessors, etc. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, processor1408 may also include components that allow the transaction trackingcomputer 81 to be connected to a display [not shown] and keyboard thatwould allow a user to directly access the processor 1408 and memory.

Memory 93 stores instructions for execution on the processor 1408, andconsists of both non-volatile memory, e.g., hard disks, flash memory,optical disks, and the like, and volatile memory, e.g., SRAM, DRAM,SDRAM, etc., as required to process embodiments of the instantinvention. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, although memory 93is depicted on, e.g., the motherboard of the transaction-trackingcomputer 81, memory 93 may also be a separate component or device, e.g.,FLASH memory, connected to the transaction-tracking computer 81. Memory93 may also store applications that various workstations can access andrun on the transaction-tracking computer 81. Importantly, memory 93stores the program product 91 of the instant invention. As one skilledin the art will understand, the program product 91, along with one ormore databases/tables/fields/records can be stored either in memory 93or in separate memory associated, for example, with a database server95, positioned in communication with the transaction tracking computer81, e.g., as shown in FIG. 13.

The electronic inventory management program product 91 can be configuredto process the received purchase transaction message and purchasetransaction data and is described in more detail in reference to FIG.12. The electronic order entry program product 91 can include a set ofinstructions that, when executed, for example, by the transactiontracking computer (computer or server, etc.) 81, cause the transactiontracking computer 81 to perform various operations to include generatinga plurality of universal product-transaction identifiers using a commonissuer identifier number (“IIN”) (Block 1210), forming a plurality ofproduct identification lookup tables in the database (Block 1220),assigning the plurality of universal product-transaction identifiers toa plurality of product sets (Block 1230), providing the plurality ofuniversal product-transaction identifiers to the product provider forplacement on respective associated products (Block 1250), receiving apurchase transaction message through the financial services electronicpayment network from each of a plurality of retail merchants (Block1260), matching a separate purchase transaction message to one of theplurality of product sets (Block 1270), updating a database for the oneof the plurality of product sets with the corresponding purchasetransaction data (Block 1280), and sending a product providertransaction message to a product provider (Block 1290).

The transaction tracking computer 81, or alternatively the issuerprocessor computer 61, can also include at least portions of anelectronic inventory management program product 91 loaded or otherwisestored in memory associated therewith. Note, the program product 91 canbe in the form of microcode, programs, routines, and symbolic languagesthat provide a specific set for sets of ordered operations that controlthe functioning of the hardware and direct its operation, as known andunderstood by those skilled in the art. Note also, the program product91, according to an embodiment of the present invention, need not residein its entirety in volatile memory, but can be selectively loaded, asnecessary, according to various methodologies as known and understood bythose skilled in the art.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, theelectronic inventory management program product 91 can include a set ofinstructions that, when executed, for example, by the transactiontracking computer or server, etc. 81, cause the transaction trackingcomputer 81 to perform various operations to include receiving apurchase transaction message from a POS terminal 67 through thefinancial services electronic payment network 33 and the issuerprocessor computer 61 responsive to a user interfacing the universalproduct-transaction identifier 41 of a selected one of the products 31with POS terminal 67, i.e., by swiping the magnetic stripe, placing anRFID tag within range of a reader, or scanning the barcode ifappropriate software is preloaded in the POS terminal 67 or othercontrolling portion of the merchant POS apparatus. The purchasetransaction message can include at least a portion of the universalproduct-transaction identifier 41 assigned to the selected product 31along with other merchant POS identifying and transaction related data.

If the POS terminal 67 supports partial message authorization messaging,the message can include a flag indicating a capability of the POSterminal 67 to support partial-authorization messaging. That is, duringcheckout involving a purchase of, for example, Orange 32 oz supplied bySoft Drink Company X, according to such embodiment of the presentinvention, a purchase transaction message is sent over the paymentnetwork 33 with data including the 4000 . . . 02 identifier and thepartial auth flag. Partial-authorization approval data is sent to thePOS terminal 67 in response to receiving the purchase transactionmessage. The partial authorization approval data can include dataindicating a partial authorization approval balance, typically in anamount of zero dollars, to indicate to the merchant via the POS terminal67, a requirement to tender funds in full from another source (cash,check, credit card, etc.).

The operations can also include receiving from the respective POSterminal 67, a second payment message defining a purchase acknowledgmentthat the POS terminal 67, or a merchant associated therewith, receivedfrom a purchasing customer sufficient monetary funds to purchase therespective product 31. In case of a failure to pay, in response to acancellation initiated by the merchant, the transaction reverses and theindication of the sale of the product 31 associated with the specificUPC or SKU 49 is deleted/expunged.

The operations can further include storing purchase transaction dataassociated with the respective product 31 being purchased for use by aprovider 97 of the product 31 being purchased. According to oneconfiguration of many different types of configurations known to thoseskilled in the art of computer systems, one or more look-uptables/lists/databases of product providers 97, particular products 31and their respective UPCs or SKUs 49, and associated universalproduct-transaction identifiers 41 or product identifier numbers 53(i.e., the “card” number portion which translates to the assigned UPCsor SKUs, and thus, the product being purchased), can be stored either inmemory 93 or in separate memory, for example, associated with a databaseserver 95 positioned in communication with the transaction trackingcomputer 81. The transaction tracking computer 81 can use the universalproduct-transaction identifier 41 (e.g., 16 digit card number) and/orproduct identifier number 53 to access the tables associated with thetransaction message, and to update various relevant tables with thereceived purchase transaction message data into usable sales, inventory,and other purchase transaction data for the associated product 31 forthe respective product provider 97. This data can also be stored in adatabase associated with memory 93, or in memory associated with adatabase server 95, in one or more tables or databases which can includecolumns or fields, such as, for example: product name, UPC or SKU 49,universal product-transaction identifier 41, a merchant category code,merchant identification number (which corresponds to a merchantlocation), terminal identification number, and time-of-day the product31 was purchased, etc.

As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the program product can bewritten to parse the product transaction message and to store relevantportions in one or more tables, and then to query tables that containthe relevant data for each product provider and assembles a productprovider transaction message from the database tables. Since eachproduct provider could request different provider transaction message,the provider tables and fields could be static, i.e., not change foreach provider, but each transaction message could be programmed to beunique or custom to the product provider, i.e., contain informationimportant or relevant to a particular product provider. These operationscould also include making at least some of the stored purchasetransaction data available to the product provider 97 through one ormore external communications networks 101 not associated with thefinancial services electronic payment network 33, or alternatively,compiling such data, real-time, for transmission to the product provider97. Beneficially, subscribing product providers 97 could access nearreal-time sales data to find out, not only how much overall product 31has been sold, but at the UPC/SKU level, as well as the date and time ofthe purchase behavior. Such data across multiple merchants, especiallythe smaller merchants, can be invaluable to the product providers 97 forproduct production and stock planning. In operation, according to anembodiment of the present invention, the product provider transactionmessage could include data that would allow Soft Drink Company X to knowwith certainty that an Orange 32 oz soda was sold at the Merchant GasStation Y located on 100 Main St on Oct. 1 at 10:02 PM.

In addition since the product providers 97 or their distributor delivertheir respective products 31 on a regular basis, as noted previously,the distributor can also be programmed to receive the product providertransaction message so that a delivery truck can arrive and know inadvance what product 31 is needed. Compared to the current process wherethe distributors load up the truck with all UPCs/SKUs, and the deliverydriver enters into each the merchant's store on his/her delivery route,takes an inventory of existing product 31 and then returns to the truckto then extract the necessary product 31 to replenish the inventorylevels, embodiment of the present invention provide a substantialimprovement in efficiency.

FIGS. 7-11 provide high-level flow diagrams illustrating method stepsand operations for facilitating electronic inventory management(including tracking) of goods, services, or combinations thereof(collectively “product” or “products”), through messaging over afinancial services electronic payment network 33, such as, for example,the Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, or Discover® network, whichis currently deployed to receive and process electronic payments throughPOS terminals, such as, for example, POS terminal 67, located at amerchant site. Note, a merchant as identified herein, includes amerchant of both products (e.g., retail or wholesale stores or shops)and services (e.g., providers of professional and non-professionalservices).

As shown in FIG. 7, according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, a “payment card number” issuer affiliated with a productprovider 97 (e.g., manufacturer, distributor, etc.) offering theproducts 31, or alternatively, the product provider 97, itself, obtains,generates, or otherwise establishes a series of, e.g., numeric, uniquefinancial services electronic payment network compatible universalproduct-transaction identifiers 41 (block 201), and assigns or otherwiseassociates each separate one of the universal product-transactionidentifiers 41 with a different set 43 of multiple of sets 45 ofproducts 31 (block 203), such that each product 31 within each singleset 43 of the multiple sets 45 of products 31, for example, associatedwith a single product provider 97, is characterized by being a sametype, size, and quantity as each other product 31 in the respective sameset 43 of products 31, and such that each product 31 within each set 43of products 31 are different from each product 31 in any of the othersets 43 of the multiple sets 45 of products 31 by a feature such astype, size, quantity, and/or delivery mode, etc., as perhaps best shownin FIG. 4.

According to one configuration, the universal product-transactionidentifiers 41 generated for each separate product provider 97 are doneso on a different common, e.g., financial, transaction issuer identifiernumber IIN 51 for each product provider 97. The common IIN 51, which isincluded in the universal product-transaction identifier 41, istypically used by the payment network 33 to identify the issuer, but inthis exemplary configuration, can also be used by the issuer to identifythe product provider 97. In other words, the IIN identifies both theissuer and a particular product provider associated with the issuer. Asone skilled in the art will appreciate, other configurations, such asone where the IIN identifies the issuer and the purchase transactionmessage includes other data to identify the product provider, may alsobe used in this system and are within the scope of this disclosure.

Note, the singular term product provider 97 includes reference to notonly a single individual entity, but can also include reference to aseparate division, subdivision, section, product line, or other type ofgrouping, as desired. As such, it should be understood that differentIINs 51 need not be assigned to product providers 97 in the form ofdifferent legal entities, but can be assigned to a single legal entity,and that each such entity division, subdivision, section, product line,or other grouping, can be considered a separate product provider 97,whether or not it would be so considered in the “legal” sense. Notealso, although indicated as numeric, if supported by the payment network33, each of the “unique” universal product-transaction identifiers 41can alternatively be differentiated from each other identifier 41 bycontaining therein a distinct series of letters, numbers and letters,code scheme, and arrangement of characters selected for such purpose.And, although applicable to product providers 97 having only a singleproduct, most product providers 97 provide multiple different types ofproducts 31 or, at least, multiple different versions of a same or coreproduct 31, which typically have different sales characteristics and mayappeal to different types of customers. Thus, each “different” product31, whether differentiated by type (e.g., orange vs. grape) or by someother characteristic (e.g., 12 oz. vs. 32 oz.) should be assigned aproduct identification number 53 which is different across products 31affiliated with the single product provider 97.

As further shown in FIG. 7, if responsible for generating the universalproduct-transaction identifiers 41, the affiliated issuer provides thegenerated universal product-transaction identifiers 41 to the productprovider 97 for physical placement on or with the associated products 31(block 221). Each of the products 31 is either packaged in a containermedium 37 to form a product apparatus 35 (see, e.g., FIG. 2), or isassigned a separate container medium 37′, for example, in the form of aproduct identification purchase ticket or slip representing the product31 (see, e.g., FIG. 3), or both. The container medium 37, 37′, carriesor otherwise contains transaction identifier storage medium 39 forstoring the respective associated universal product-transactionidentifier 41. Each transaction identifier storage medium 39 isconfigured to interface with the POS terminal 67, which is positioned toreceive the respective universal product-transaction identifier 41 fortransmission over the existing financial services electronic paymentnetwork 33.

Each product 31 is also assigned a product identifier (e.g., UPC or SKU49), which can also be carried or otherwise contained by the containermedium 37, 37′, typically using a paste-on label, to allow electronicproduct identification using the bar-code scanner 71 of the POS terminal67. The universal product-transaction identifiers 41 selected forstorage in the storage medium 39 of the particular product 31, are doneso, according to a preferred configuration, such that each product 31within each single set 43 of the plurality of sets 45 of products 31,for each same product provider 97, have the same UPC/SKU 49 associatedtherewith that is different from the UPC/SKU 49 associated with eachproduct 31 in any of the other sets 43 of products 31.

As further shown in FIG. 7, after the assigned universalproduct-transaction identifier 41 is loaded in the storage medium 39,and the UPC or SKU 49 is either labeled or embossed on the containermedium 37, 37′, typically by the product manufacturer, the productprovider 97 distributes the products 31, or has the products 31distributed, to multiple, e.g., retail merchants each having a POSapparatus including a POS terminal 67 (block 231). According to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, each of the retailmerchants have a POS apparatus/terminal 67 that supportspartial-authorization messaging over the financial services electronicpayment network 33 in a POS environment.

As shown in FIG. 8, either as part of the step/operation of associatingeach different universal product-transaction identifier 41 with adifferent set 43 of products 31, or as a separate step/operation, one ormore of the universal product-transaction identifiers 41 are linked withits associated product 31 for either a single product provider 97, orfor multiple providers 97, with the corresponding product provider 97(block 211), and are responsively stored in a computer readable mediumsuch as, for example, memory 93 of the transaction tracking computer 81or the memory associated with database server 95 (block 213).

As shown in FIG. 9, to purchase a product 31, a customer typicallybrings the product 31 to the POS checkout counter. The merchant scansthe label displaying the product identifier, e.g., 12 digit UPC/SKU 49,to record the sale of the product 31 (block 241). At the end of thepurchase process, the merchant POS apparatus/terminal 67 begins itsend-of-sale tendering process and prompts for “payment” (block 243). Inembodiments where the storage medium 39 is in the form of a magneticstripe, the first “payment” presented should be a “swipe” of themagnetic stripe for the product 31 being purchased, through the magneticstripe reader/slot 73 of the POS apparatus/terminal 67 (block 245),which begins communication with the issuer through the payment network33. In the embodiments of the invention where the storage medium is inthe form of an RFID tag, the container medium 37, 37′ need only beplaced in close proximity to the tag reader portion of the POS terminal67. Moreover, in the embodiments of the invention where the storagemedium is in the form of a barcode, the barcode scanner 71 can be used.Moreover, rather than include a separate storage medium 39, the softwarecontrolling the barcode reading and/or purchase recording functions ofthe merchant POS apparatus/terminal 67 can be modified so that a singlescan of the embossed image or barcode label carrying the UPC/SKU 49 notonly records the transaction locally at the merchant level, but reads alocal look-up table to convert the UPC/SKU 49 into the universalproduct-transaction identifier 41 associated with the product 31 beingpurchased. In addition or alternatively, the merchant POSapparatus/terminal 97 can include transaction identifier translationprogram product (not shown) configured to cause the merchant POSapparatus processor (not shown) to access the look-up table of universalproduct-transaction identifiers 41 and associated UPCs/SKUs 49, and tosend the universal product-transaction identifier 41 associated with theproduct 31 being purchased through the existing financial serviceselectronic payment network 33 responsive to the merchant POSapparatus/terminal 97 reading or otherwise receiving the UPC/SKU 49 ofthe product 31 being purchased. Note, in order to simplify the localmerchant look-up table, the product identifier number 53 portion of theunique universal product-transaction identifier 41 can be selected toallow both product identification and product provider identification atthe issuer level.

Regardless of the configuration, the merchant POS apparatus/terminal 67sends a purchase transaction message sent through the financial serviceselectronic payment network 33, which can use the IIN 51 of the purchasetransaction identifier 41 associated with the product 31 being purchasedto identify the appropriate issuer, and to route the purchasetransaction message thereto via the issuer processor computer 61 and/ortransaction tracking computer 81.

As shown in FIG. 10, the issuer receives the purchase transactionmessage (block 251), and stores purchase transaction data related byUPC/SKU 49 for access by the product provider 97 that supplied therespective product 31 being purchased (block 253). Note, although theindividual purchase transaction data at the time of storage generallyreflects data for the specific product 31 being purchased for thespecific product provider 97, the stored purchase transaction data canbe compiled for each separate product provider 97 or multiple providers97, and across multiple retail merchants selling multiple products 31associated with the respective product provider or providers 97. Thestored purchase transaction data can include, not only a purchaseindication for the specific product 31 being purchased, but also thedate purchased, time-of-day purchased, and product purchase locationindicia.

In a partial authorization messaging environment, the purchasetransaction message is a first message, which, along with the purchasetransaction identifier 41 associated with the respective product 31being purchased, includes a flag indicating a capability of the merchantPOS apparatus/terminal 67 to support partial-authorization messaging,and generally the following data items: merchant category code, merchantidentification number, merchant identification number, terminalidentification number, and time-of-day. As such, the steps/operationscan also include the issuer sending partial-authorization approval datato the respective merchant POS apparatus/terminal 67 in response toreceiving the first purchase transaction message (block 255), and theissuer receiving a second payment message from the respective merchantPOS apparatus/terminal 67 acknowledging that the merchant POSapparatus/terminal 67 or a merchant associated therewith receivedsufficient monetary funds to purchase the respective product 31 (block257). In a preferred configuration, the partial authorization approvaldata includes data indicating a partial authorization approval balanceof zero dollars that can function as prompt to do the merchant/customerto tender funds in full from another source.

The steps/operations can further include making the purchase transactiondata available to the product provider 97 (block 259), for example, overan external communications network 101. The data can be eitherimmediately available, or a delay can be incorporated to allow therespective merchants to cancel the purchase transaction if eithersufficient funds are not received or if the product 31 isreturned/refunded. Also or alternatively, transaction reports can begenerated to provide near real time or slight-time-delayed purchasetransaction data to allow real-time inventory manufacturing and deliverymanagement of the products 31.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary scenario that summarizes many of thesteps/operations of the process described in FIGS. 7-10, whereby thepurchase transaction is successful. This illustration includes thetransfer of the purchase transaction identifiers 41, and includes anexemplary dataflow between the merchant and the issuer.

Note, although the operations of receiving and storing were discussedwith respect to a single product purchase, the operation of receiving apurchase transaction message can include receiving a plurality ofpurchase transaction messages from a plurality of retail merchantapparatus/terminals 67 each positioned across separate and spaced apartretail merchant sites. Additionally, the stored purchase transactiondata can include purchase transaction data for each of the products 31supplied to each of the retail merchants by the product provider 97 andseparately purchased therefrom.

Moreover, while embodiments of the present invention have been describedin the context of a fully functional system, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that the mechanism of at least portions of the presentinvention and/or aspects thereof are capable of being distributed in theform of a computer readable medium of instructions in a variety of formsfor execution on a processor, processors, or the like, and thatembodiments of the present invention apply equally regardless of theparticular type of signal bearing media used to actually carry out thedistribution. Examples of computer readable media include, but are notlimited to: nonvolatile, hard-coded type media such as read onlymemories (ROMs), CD-ROMs, and DVD-ROMs, or erasable, electricallyprogrammable read only memories (EEPROMs), recordable type media such asfloppy disks, hard disk drives, CD-R/RWs, DVD-RAMs, DVD-R/RWs,DVD+R/RWs, flash drives, and other newer types of memories, andtransmission type media such as digital and analog communication links.For example, such media can include both operating instructions andoperations instructions related to the program product 91 and thecomputer implemented method steps/operations, described above.

This application is a divisional and claims priority to U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/626,349, filed Nov. 25,2009, titled “Machine, Methods, and Program Product for ElectronicInventory Tracking,” which claims priority to and is related to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/118,127, filed Nov. 26, 2008,titled “System, Apparatus, Methods, And Program Product For ElectronicInventory Tracking,” U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.12/554,432, filed Sep. 4, 2009, titled “System, Method, and ProgramProduct for Retail Activation and Reload Associated with PartialAuthorization Transactions,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/609,896, filed Oct. 30, 2009, titled “Machine Methods, And ProgramProduct For Electronic Order Entry,” each of which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed a typicalpreferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms areemployed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. The invention has been described in considerabledetail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It willbe apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be madewithin the spirit and scope of the invention as described in theforegoing specification. For example, although reference has been madeto merchant POS apparatus/terminals, it should be understood that noactual sale is required. Thus, use of non-merchant apparatus/terminalshaving access to one or more of the existing financial serviceselectronic payment networks, is within the scope of the presentinvention.

That claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method to facilitateelectronic inventory management of a plurality of products provided by aplurality of product providers, the method comprising: generating, by acomputer associated with a financial institution to define a financialinstitution computer, a plurality of universal product transactionidentifiers adapted to be positioned on a plurality of productapparatuses to facilitate electronic inventory management of a pluralityof products, each of the plurality of universal product transactionidentifiers including a bank identifier number (BIN) issued by thefinancial institution and a product identifier, the BIN being compatiblewith an electronic financial payment network to thereby enable theelectronic financial payment network to identify the financialinstitution as the issuer of the plurality of universal producttransaction identifiers; determining, by the financial institutioncomputer, receipt of one or more first transaction messages includingone or more of the plurality of universal product transactionidentifiers and a flag indicating a capability of a payment interfaceassociated with one of a plurality of merchants to supportpartial-authorization messaging, the one or more first transactionmessages being sent through the electronic financial payment networkfrom one or more of a plurality of merchant acquirer computersresponsive to one or more purchase requests of one or more of theplurality of products; sending, by the financial institution computervia the electronic financial payment network responsive to thedetermining receipt of the one or more first transaction messages,partial-authorization approval data to the one or more of the pluralityof merchant acquirer computers to indicate a requirement to tender fundsto complete the one or more purchase requests of the one or more of theplurality of products to thereby use the partial authorization messagingto facilitate the communication of product inventory data using theelectronic financial payment network; determining receipt of one or moresecond transaction messages sent through the electronic financialpayment network from the one or more of the plurality of merchantacquirer computers, the one or more second transaction messagesindicating a purchase acknowledgement; and notifying, by the financialinstitution computer responsive to the determining receipt of the one ormore second transaction messages, at least one of the plurality ofproduct providers of one or more product provider transaction messages,the one or more product provider transaction messages includinginventory data regarding one or more the plurality of products providedby the at least one of the plurality of product providers to the one ofthe plurality of merchants.
 2. A computer-implemented method as definedin claim 1, wherein the one or more second transaction messages isresponsive to the one of the plurality of merchant acquirer computersreceiving authorization of a method of payment from a second financialinstitution that issued a transaction card associated with method ofpayment.
 3. A computer-implemented method as defined in claim 1, whereinthe computer-implemented method further comprises the step of:responsive to receiving account information from the one or more of theplurality of merchant acquirer computers after sending thepartial-authorization approval data, sending, via the electronicfinancial payment network, authorization data to the one or more of theplurality of merchant acquirer computers to indicate authorization ofthe payment requests, the authorization being responsive to atransaction card issued by the financial institution being used as amethod of payment for the one or more of the plurality of products; andwherein the determining receipt of the one or more second transactionmessages is responsive the sending the authorization data step.
 4. Acomputer-implemented method as defined in claim 2, wherein thetransaction card is one or more of the following: a prepaid card, acredit card, or a debit card.
 5. A computer-implemented method asdefined in claim 1, wherein the purchase acknowledgement receivedfurther indicate one or more of the following data items: merchantcategory code, merchant identification number, terminal identificationnumber, date purchased, time-of-day purchased, and product purchaselocation indicia.
 6. A computer-implemented method as defined in claim1, wherein the payment interface retrieves the one or more of theplurality of universal transaction identifiers via one or more of thefollowing: swiping a magnetic stripe positioned on the one or more ofthe plurality of product apparatuses, reading a RFID tag positioned onor in the one or more of the plurality of product apparatuses, orscanning a bar code positioned on the one or more of the plurality ofproduct apparatuses.
 7. A computer-implemented method as defined inclaim 1, wherein a set of the plurality of products provided by one ofthe plurality of product providers have a common BIN.
 8. Acomputer-implemented method as defined in claim 5, wherein the one ormore product provider transaction messages include a compiled report ofthe one or more of the plurality of products based on date purchased,time-of-day-purchased, or product purchase location.
 9. Acomputer-implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein the methodfurther comprises the step of: communicating, via the communicationnetwork, the plurality of universal product transaction identifiers tothe plurality of product providers positioned remote from each other sothat the plurality of universal product transaction identifiers areadapted to be positioned on the plurality of product apparatuses, theplurality of product providers adapted to provide the plurality ofproducts to a plurality of merchants.
 10. A computer-implemented methodas defined in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of:creating, by the financial institution computer, a plurality of productlook up tables that correlate the plurality of product identifiers ofthe plurality of universal product transaction identifiers with one ormore of the plurality of products of one or more of the plurality ofproduct providers, the creating being responsive to receiving, via acommunication network, product information from the plurality of productproviders.